Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-10-28


entertainment whatever appertaininp to the
o tIe ANY member found guilty Of violating
snls law shall be suspended less than six
lor this offense Any local or other assembly
so offending shall be suspended during the
P sba1i %svs Of the General Executive or
snal nave us charter revoked by said board
give my questions and Mr.. Litchman's
answers verbatim.
asked: MIR. Litchman, by whom vas
He said: at the 8 ssion of the Cen
eral Assembly, held at Cleveland, it WIS
provided that committee of three should
be appointed for the purpose of revising
the constitution of the order. The Cen
eral Master Workman subsequently apl
pointed Representatives Litchman. oA
massachusetts,; Barnes, of New York; andl
simmernan, of New Jersey, as that COM
mlttee: This committee prepared a revis-
ion of the Constitution, which was sub
mitted to the General Assembly at
Richmond for its consideration. ABORTION
OF the Constitution as revised was adopted
by the General Assembly, and the balance,
together with many propositions for fur
Their amendment, submitted at the same
session, was referred to another committee
OF revision, consisting of the General Elk.
ecutlve Board. Brothers Howes, of Massa.
chusetts; Devlin, of Michigan; Haggerty,
OF New York; and Abrahams. of Massa-
chusetts Representative Devlin resigned
before the work was completed and the
General Secretary was appointed to the
vacancy. The vote under which this latter
committee was appointed provided that the
should be submitted to the local assemblies
OF the order and that vote be taken
thereon: II majority of the votes cast
should be in favor of the revision, it should
be promulgated as the Constitution of the
order. The article in question was pre-
pared by this committee and was part of
the revision submitted to the local assem-
blles IN accordance with the above-men-
toned vote"
"By what vote was it adopted"
More than two-thirds of the votes were
IN favor of the revision of the Constitu-
ton: Many of the negative votes were
solely on account of this provision"
There seems to be some dissatisfaction
with this article. 1 understand that several
local assemblies have seeded on account
OF 1t. Is not this dissatisfaction confined
almost wholly TO assemblies whose mem
bers are chiefly brewery employes?"
only know OF one assembly that sur
rendered its charter on account of that sec.
ton. That was in Milwaukee. The as
sembly which the Associated Press stated
had surrendered its charter in Cincinnati
was suspended by the district assembly at
that place for INSTRUMENTATION. So that
the revision ct the Constitution had moth
ing to do with the severing of the connec-
ton between that assembly and the order.
Yes, think that the objection is main
ly confined to assemblies composed of
workmen employed in and around brew
cries. There is also some objection among
our German members, who look upon any
legislation in relation to Intoxicating
liquors as an invasion of personal liberty.
They do not understand the real scope and
meaning OF the section AGAINST which thew
make complaint. The old constitution
gave 10 the General Assembly the power
to proL-Nit the sale of Intoxicating liquors
ut entertainments given by assemblies of
this Order. The new constitution simply
makes that provision more explicit. The
personal liberty of any member to drown
himself in intoxicating liquors is not inter-
member to make fool OF himself by get
ting drunk is not interfered with by this
section. 1t simply prevents meeting,
party. sociable, bail, p chic, or entertain
ment of any kild appertaining to the
Order being turned into a rum shop. The
Order refuses admission to man that |
sells rum or to the man who obtains liv-
ing from the sale of rum. 1t would not |
only be inconsistent but farce to permit
an assembly of the Order to do that for
which an individual is prohibited from
Sour organization does not pretend to be
temperance organization. Our laws do
not interfere with the personal liberty Of a
that the man who sells rum shall not be a
and that branches of the Order
to the General Assembly shall
not use the name of the Order as shield
for Sc ling rum. My own opinion in rela-
ton to this personal liberty cry is this:
do not claim the right to say tqat man
shall not have the liberty of getting drunk.
have no right to interfere with his per-
sonal liberty in that rection. have the
right to d ,mand in return that in the exer-
cising Of his personal liberty to get drunk
he shall not interfere with my personal lib
erty nor my right to obtain and retain en-
ployment, and to secure just remunera-
ton for my toll. If, in case OF o difficulty,
liberty in getting drunk, becomes scab,
and the eby aids in the failure of strike,
he certainly interferes with my personal
liberty 10 defend my rights. This, how
ever, is matter of personal opinion. about
which, perhaps, there may be room for ar
gument. simply give it as my personal
opinion"
"What are the advantages in moral, social
and economic directions that will be gained
through this new ruler"
II know from the experience that have
gained in twenty-three years of travel that
The greatest curse that labor suffers under
is the curse of rum. will use every in
iuence l have to induce my fellow men to
abstain from The use of intoxicating liquors.
I will exercise all my power and influence
and politically to prevent the !
'ale of rum and to persuade others to do
he same thing. Could We have tor use |
,nder the cooperative principles incul-
:ated by our organization the money
pent in single year for intoxicating {
thinks by the workinemen of America, we
ould control the transportation, the trans ]
mission of intelligence, and large por- s
ion of the necessities of life. The moral
influence of our order is in the direction
# soberness, thrift. education and Coop
ration"
)isgraceful Scenes ut the Tri.State
Fair Near Toledo.
There is an Ohio statute which prohibits
he selling of beer within two miles Of any
\ :.~k A. - D..kk |